Vehicle-wheel



(No Model.)

B. HRSQOTGT & J. PRENI R.

VEHIGLEWHEEL.

No. 276,899. Patented May 1,1883.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Litbognpfmn Wis hmflun. D. c.

. UNITE STATES PATENT QFFICE.

EMMET H. sooTT AND JOSEPH FRENIER, OF LA PonTE, INDIANA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,899, dated May 1, 1883.

- Application filed November 20, 1882. (No model.) y

, engines, thrashing-machines, and wheeled vehicles generally.

The object of our improvement is to provide a wheel of which any part can be readily replaced or renewed, which is light, cheap, du'

rahle, and strong, and which can readily and efficiently be constructed entirely of metal.

Our invention is characterized mainly by the combination, with a box or supporting-spindle which can be turned or rotated independently of the spoke-holding devices, of annular castings or spoke-holders mounted on and adjustablyconnected to said box in such manner that they will approach or recede from one another, according to the direction in which the box is rotated, and independently movable or adjustable spokes, which are held at one end by the rim and at .theother end by said castings or holders. By giving the spokes capacity for adjustment independently of one another we can correct inequalities in thelength of the spokes and get the wheel well balanced and truly round, while by the adjustable connection between the box and the spoke-holders or annular castings the latter can be caused to simultaneously approach or recede from one another, thus putting simultaneously upon all the spokes the desired tepsio n.

In the accompanying drawings, to which we will now refer, we have represented the preferred embodiment of our invention.

Figure l is a side view of the wheel. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the wheel. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one end of the hub, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of one end of the The hub A consists of three parts, I) c c. The middle part, b, is the box or hearing for the axle. c 0 are annular castings or spokeholders. Each of these castings is fitted with holes to receive and retain the spokes, the number of spoke-holes in each being one-half of the number of spokes in the wheel. The

two sets of spokes are at the hub several [inches apart, thus forming a very stronglybraced wheel which cannot dish. In order to obtain the adjustable connection hereinbefore referred to between the annular castings and the box, the latter has on one end a right-hand screw-thread and on the opposite end a lefthand screw-thread, and each annular casting is internally screw-threaded, so as to screw upon that end of the box for which it is designed. By this construction it will be seen that if the box be rotated and the castings heldfrom following its rotary movement they willbe caused to simultaneously approach or recede from one another, according to the direction in which the box is rotated. After-the wheel is completed the tension on the spokes will be increased by moving the castings apart, and will be diminished by bringingthem nearer together. This can be accomplished by turning the box as above indicated. In. many cases a piece of gas-pipe will be a suitable box. There maybe a projection or flange, d d, (indioated by dotted lines,) on each of the annular castings, extending beyond the end of the box, to serve as a sand-band or mud-band, and the spoke-holes maybe in this portion of the castings. The rim e ofthe wheel can be made of iron or steel, of half-oval or other suitable shape in cross-section, with holes at equal distances apart to receive the outer ends of the spokesf. Each spoke has one of its ends screw-threaded and its opposite end formed with a head, like a bolt-head or rivet-head. In the wheel shown in the drawings the screwthreaded ends of the spokes screw into the holes in the rim, which are correspondingly screw-threaded.

In putting the wheel together the spokes are passed point first through the spoke-holes in th hub, and are then screwed into the rim until they are drawn with equal and uniform tension, so as to make the wheel well balanced, true, and round, after which the castings c c are adjusted by turning the box I) until the requisite degree of tension is obtained.

In lieu of fastening the spokes as just described, the arrangement may be reversed by having the holes in the rim countersunk to receive the head ends of the spokes and the holes in the annular castings tapped to receive the screw ends of spokes. Then the heads of the spokes would be in position in the rim, and

the screw ends would be screwed into the holes [justably thereon, so as to be capable of being tapped in the annular castings. Either mode of fastening effects substantially the same result; but we prefer on the whole the arrangement shown in the drawings. The spokes at one end of the hub should not be opposite those at the other end, but should alternate with them.

When a wheel is constructed in this manner it acts on the principle ofa truss. Ordinarily no other tire than the rim will be necessary. By substituting a spindle for the box I) and securing the annular castings in place by means of a right-hand thread for one and a left-hand thread for the other out on the spindle, the castings also being provided with threads to match, or by means of set-screws screwedinto the annular castings and binding tight onto the spindle, or by means of double jaw nuts to fit the threads on the spindle to secure a proper adjustment of tension, or otherwise, the wheel may be so modified as to adapt it to use for grain-drill, hay-rake, or wheelbarrow Wheels, or any other wheel where it is desired to have the axle turn with the wheel. The hub may also be modified so as to adapt it to a tapering spindle.

\Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 13-- 1. The combination of the box, the two annular spoke-holders or castings mounted adcaused to simultaneously approach or recede from one another, therim and the spokes adjustably connected independently of one another to the annular castings and the rim, substantial] y as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The hub consisting of the right-and-leftscrew-threaded box I) and the end annular castings, 0, mounted and capable of adjustment thereon as described, in combination with the rim and the spokes having a head at one end and a screw-thread at the other, engaging the rim and the annular castings, respectively, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. The right-and-left-screw-threaded box and the annular castings mounted upon said box,

so as to project partly beyond the ends of the EMMET H. SCOTT. JOSEPH FRENIER.

Witnesses:

W. J. RILEY, J. H. BAINES. 

